No driving licence? Prison awaits you

In a bid to bring down road accidents, the Delhi Traffic Police have decided to put motorists without valid driving licences behind bars. Subhendu Ray reports.

In a bid to bring down road accidents, the Delhi Traffic Police have decided to put motorists without valid driving licences behind bars. What's more, the police will move court to award jail custody to motorists, including parents of minors, who drive on city roads without valid papers.

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Around 100 people are caught driving without valid licences on the city roads every day, sources said.

"They contribute to road accidents to a large extent," said a senior officer of traffic police.

On Saturday, traffic police challaned 83 people for driving without licence.

Failing to cope with the problem of accidents by just slapping a fine of R500, the traffic police have decided to send them to jail. According to Section 181 of Motor Vehicles Act, whoever drives without a valid licence can be imprisoned for up to three months or fined R500 or both.

This year, till March 15, more than 5,500 people have been challaned for driving without licence. "We are approaching court to send drivers without licence to jail at least for a day to start with," said Satyendra Garg, joint commissioner of police (traffic).